The lower tunnels weren't on any map. Even the city above had forgotten their existence. Half-collapsed, choked with debris and cables, they pulsed faintly with a mechanical heartbeat—old tech fused with veins of something almost organic, still alive after who knew how many years.
Iver led the way, rifle slung lightly across her back. The faint glow from her armor traced the contours of her violet hair, and every now and then, I felt that subtle pressure brushing the edge of my consciousness—the edge of Bloodlust, sharp and restrained. Only the strongest could wield it, she had said. I wasn't ready.
Reid followed, flames dancing along the gauntlet on his arm. Sera's eyes flickered, reflecting the distorted light as she scanned the tunnels for anomalies. Barel carried his living blade, veins pulsing faintly in the gloom. And Lune moved silently beside her mechanical wolf, its claws clicking softly against the cracked floor.
The deeper we went, the quieter it became. Not the kind of quiet you could enjoy—it pressed on your chest, making every breath feel shallow. The air smelled of rust, ozone, and something faintly metallic… like blood.
"Careful," Iver whispered. "These tunnels aren't just old—they're alive."
I didn't understand at first. Then I felt it: a faint tremor under my boots. Not vibration, not sound. Something aware. The walls themselves seemed to shiver, as though sensing our intrusion. My pulse sped. A thread of fear, but also curiosity, threaded through me.
We rounded a corner, and the tunnel opened into a massive chamber. Machines fused with sinew sprawled across the floor—parasites that had evolved into grotesque hybrids, half-armor, half-flesh. Some of the larger ones twitched even in death, their systems flickering faintly.
Lune's wolf growled low, steam rising from its mechanical muzzle. Its amber eyes glowed brighter, scanning for danger.
Iver crouched beside me. "Do not touch anything without permission," she said quietly. Her violet eyes glinted as she scanned the chamber. "These aren't just monsters—they're weapons."
Reid stepped forward, flames licking along his gauntlet. "They look… dead."
"Appearances are deceiving," Iver replied. She moved with sudden fluidity, her rifle raised. Then she paused, sensing something far deeper in the chamber.
A hum, low and resonant, spread from the shadows. Something alive stirred beneath the floor—ancient, intelligent, waiting.
Barel's blade pulsed, veins of red light snaking along the edge as though recognizing a predator. Sera's eyes flickered, distorting the chamber in small, subtle waves. Even I felt it—a thread of resonance, faint, almost like it was tugging at me.
"Formation," Iver commanded. The squad shifted, positioning themselves around the chamber. The mounts moved with mechanical grace, flanking and protecting. Lune whispered softly, almost a chant, and the wolf's claws clicked in sync with her voice.
Then it struck.
A parasite hybrid, twice the size of a man, lunged from the shadows. Its body was fused with rusted metal, wires twisting into veins, claws scraping the floor like sickles. Its eyes—glowing faintly green—fixed on us.
Reid ignited his gauntlet, flames arcing toward it. Sera's illusions fractured the air, creating duplicates of herself that danced around the creature. Barel's blade sang as it cut through its armor, leaving trails of crimson light.
I stayed back, my hands trembling. The resonance thrummed faintly under my skin, like the walls themselves were aware of me. A shiver of instinct whispered that if I acted too soon, I could die. Too late, same result.
Iver didn't hesitate. Her rifle barked once, then again, then she drew her sword. A faint shimmer emanated from her, just at the edge of perception—a reminder of her Bloodlust. The creature faltered, hesitation passing over it like a shadow.
And then it was gone, shredded by the squad and the mounts.
When the echoes settled, I realized I was breathing too fast. My heart pounded not just from fear, but something else. That thread I had felt… stronger now. Faint, yes, but growing. Resonance.
Lune's wolf nuzzled my leg, sensing it too. Iver's gaze caught mine briefly, her expression unreadable.
"You're not ready," she said quietly, almost a whisper. "But you exist in a way that matters here. Keep that in mind."
I nodded. Words failed me. The tunnels themselves seemed to hum in approval—or warning.
Above us, the ruins waited. Alive. Watching.
And somewhere in the shadows, more of the city's secrets stirred, waiting for someone daring—or foolish—enough to wake them